Researchers at University of Rochester Medicine published findings in Mucosal Immunology. They studied how giving antibiotics early to newborn mice changed the gut bacteria and affected lung immune cells.
The antibiotics were like those used in many NICUs and wiped out key gut bacteria. This changed gene activity in lung immune cells. The cells moved from an “offense” state, ready to fight, to a “defense” state that focuses on repair. These changes did not happen when the microbiome stayed normal, and some effects lasted into young adulthood.
Difficult words
- researcher — People who do scientific studies and experimentsResearchers
- antibiotic — Medicine that kills or stops bacteriaantibiotics
- microbiome — All the small living microbes in a body
- immune cell — Body cell that helps defend against diseaselung immune cells
- gene activity — How active genes are inside a cell
- newborn — Baby animals or babies just after birthnewborn mice
- adulthood — Period when a person or animal is adultyoung adulthood
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Discussion questions
- Do you think doctors should give antibiotics to newborns? Why or why not?
- How could a change from an 'offence' state to a 'defence' state affect a child later?
- Would you be worried if early medicine changed the bacteria in a baby? Why?
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